Although bilateral and people-to-people relationship between Fiji and India has always been cordial, there is much hope in Suva that the new Indian Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will facilitate a higher reach.
While India has just completed its mammoth exercise of conducting a general election with a whopping voters’ list of about 814.5 million people, Fiji will go to polls on September 17, 2014 to elect its representatives to Parliament, which was suspended on December 6, 2006 for constitutional, political and economic reforms.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Mr Modi, won 282 seats in the 543 member Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament), emerging as the single largest Party with absolute majority. Its tally, along with other political parties in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was 336 seats, unprecedented in recent Indian electoral history.
Prime initiative
Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama took the initiative to write at length to Mr Modi congratulating him on his electoral victory, perhaps one of the first leaders to do so.
In his letter to the Prime Minister-Designate sent on May 17, Mr Bainimarama described the general election as ‘a model of the exceptional robustness of Indian democracy.”
Congratulating Mr Modi on behalf of the Government and people of Fiji, he said that his country enjoyed political, economic and cultural cooperation as well as strategic alliances with India.
“Your election to lead your great country and its people is a clear testimony of confidence and trust that the people of India have with your Party. Your democracy, the world’s largest, stands witness to India’s deep commitment to the secular values to which my Government feels particularly attached,” he said in his letter.
Mr Bainimarama said that the Fijian Government was keen to strengthen ties that would enhance the development of both countries.
“I am confident that the true spirit of friendship and cooperation that provides the unbreakable bond between our two nations and its people will be further strengthened in the years ahead,” he said.
Trusted friend
India is the only country in the democratic world that has retained and enhanced its relations with Fiji, oblivious of the coups and military regimes that have been a feature of the country since its independence in 1970. Successive Governments in Delhi have followed the policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries and have pursued friendship with the South Pacific nation.
Even at the peak of travel ban and economic sanctions that were imposed by Australia and New Zealand the suspension of membership by the Commonwealth (all since Mr Bainimarama sized power through a military coup on December 5, 2006), India has entertained exchange visits at ministerial levels. Mr Bainimarama himself has visited India on a number of occasions over the past eight years and enjoyed the country’s hospitality and understanding.
Democratic ideals
Since ‘Election Fiji,’ an independent agency announced that the general election will be held on September 20, 2014, a number of political parties have stepped up their activities, many of them critical of the current Government. Some of them have questioned the style of Governance followed by Mr Bainimarama and his cabinet colleagues, especially the alleged censorship of the media.
However, a majority of people, especially those of Indian origin, support him for his reforms which bring them on a par with ethnic Fijians. The ‘One-Vote-for-all’ policy and other measures have won wide appreciation.
In his letter, Mr Bainimarama extended an official invitation to Mr Modi to visit Fiji.
“I assure you of my personal commitment as well as that of the Government of Fiji, to continue to work closely with you and your Government to further strengthen the excellent bilateral relations that so happily exist between our two nations,” he said.
Delhi response
Mr Modi proved that he is a ‘modern Prime Minister,’ with modern thoughts and approach. On Twitter he acknowledged Mr Bainimarama’s good wishes and said that he and his Government look forward to stronger ties with Fiji during his tenure.
The Indian Government sees Fiji as a potential window to look far into the South Pacific and evolve a strategy that would enhance the Indian influence in the region. India is keen to gain full membership of the Pacific Island Forum in which it has the status of an Observer. Known for its non-aggressive and genuine friendship policy, India has been a welcome participant in the political grouping and has been a benefactor to a number of countries through aid, training programmes and other avenues.
The future
India sees Fiji as its most important reference point in the South Pacific, partly because of its growing importance elsewhere in the world and partly because of the sizeable population of ethnic Indians.
Fiji businesses and organisations and people of Fijian origin have been recipients of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award presented in January every year.
The current mood of celebration in India would extend to Fiji when that country emerges as a democratic entity after the September election. Both countries will thereafter pitch a path to travel together for the benefit of their peoples.
